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WAR DEPARTMENT 

'^SERVICE EDITION NUMBER 14. 


DETECTIVE KEEN 


PS 3521 
.N54 D4 
1918 
Copy 1 


A Play in One Act 


BY 

PERCIVAL KNIGHT 


y 


7'he use of this piece by courtesy of the author. 
Dramatic rights by courtesy of Sanger & Jordan. 


Copyright, 1918, By Percival Knight. 


WxVSHINGTON 

Commission on Training Camp Activities 
Department of Dramatic Activities Among the 

Soldiers. 

1918. 



DETECTIVE KEEN 
CHARACTEKS 

Mr. Ridgewell, a diamond merchant. 
A Visitor. 

A Crook. 

Detective Keen. 

A Maid. 

CUES FOR BELLS 



1 . 

2 . 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6 . 


Telephone : 

. throat of the thief. 

Door : 


. Martha, bring my cigars. 
Telephone : 

.Yes; and this is the smoking room. 

Door: 


. try to he as unconcerned as possible. 
Telephone : 

. Thank you, Detective Keen. 

Door : 


. You will be my lawyer. 
PROPERTIES 
Coffee cups and service. 

Cigarette box and ash tray for table up stage. 

^‘DETECTIVE KEEN^^ 


(Curtain rises on well- furnished hall drawing 
room. Telephone r. Table l. Hall passage- 
way with hat-rack and table for visitors^ cards. 
Door up stage l. Door down stage l. Door 

R. 1.) 

Ready. ^Phone. 

Ridgewell. (At idse, discovered at table, sorting 
papers and making notes) I can’t understand it. 
(Rises, cro.sses r.) It is the most atrocious luck I 
ever had — $27,000 and not a cent insured. (Crosses 
L. to c.) Eighteen years in the jewelry business 
and this is the first thing I ever lost. I’d just like 
to get my fingers around the throat of the thief. 
(Telephone rings. Maid enters.) 

Maid. (Shortly after rise, simidtaneously with 

xOCLD 5U892 ^ 

DEC 16 1918 


ringing of telephone, entei's, stands in door with 
coffee on tray, unnoticed hy Ridgewell, and listens 
attentively to everything he says on the telephone.) 

Ridgewell. (Goes to telephone, takes up re- 
ceiver, not seeing business of Maid) Hello, who is 
that? ... Is that the private detective agency? 
Yes, this is Mr. Ridgewell. Good ! What time are 
you going to send the man up? Ten o^clock shar^). 
Very good. What^s his name? Detective Keen. 
Detective K-e-e-n {Spelling it.) {Maid approaches 
Ridgewell from behind, intent on speech, and re- 
treats through door u. l. at close of speech.) I see. 
No, there is no further news. Nothing has been 
touched. I have obeyed the police’s instructions 
explicitly. . . . All right, ten o’clock. Very good. 
I hope so, too. . . . Yes, all right, thank you very 
much. Good-bye. {Crosses d. l. to corner) That’s 
one move in the right direction. By Jove, I hope I 
find it. 

Maid. {Having made keen show of facial expres- 
sion throiighout the telephone conversation, disap- 
pears through door as Ridgeivell goes to seat, then 
re-enters quickly c. as if nothing had happened) 
Mrs. Ridgewell wants to see you upstairs, sir. 
{Places service on small table u. l.) 

Ridgewell. How is she, Martha ? 

Maid. Just about the same, sir. 

Ridgewell. Oh, very good. I’ll go straight up. 
{Exit through door into dining room). 

Maid. {Watches him go, listening to his step, 
then quick as lightning crosses to telephone) Hello ! 
601 Bryant. No ! No. 601 ! {Waits, then suddenly 
speaks, all very quickly) Hello, I’m in a tight cor- 
ner. Yes, I’ve got it, got it safe, but I can’t get 
away. 7’m afraid to leave the house, in case the 
police have got me watched. He has just rung up 
the detective agency, and they are sending a detec- 
tive, Detective Keen. They say he is going to be 
here at ten o’clock to-night. If he gets here before 

3 


I 


I can get away, I am done ! What shall I do ? . . 

. . .Yes, yes. . . . {Listens intently to instruc- 
tions over telephone, making small comments there- 
to) Good ! What time can you make it? All right. 
Don’t delay, for God’s sake. No, he doesn’t sus- 
pect. I am positive. You won’t fail me. {Sud- 
denly hears step. Rings off) Good-bye! {Hangs 
up receiver and quickly makes a pretense of tidying 
things on table R.) 

Ridge WELL. {Enters and sits down at table l.) 
Martha, don’t forget to let Mrs. Ridgewell have her 
next dose of medicine at half -past ten. 

Maid. Very good, sir. {At table r.) 

Ridgewell. You didn’t mention anything of this 
to your mistress, did you, Martha? 

Martha. No, sir. 

Ridgewell. Remember, I don’t want her to 
know anything of it until she is thoroughly re- 
covered, as the shock would probably put her back 
some days. 

Martha. I didn’t say a word, sir. 

Ridgewell. The disappearance of this jewel is 
the most extraordinary thing I ever heard of. 
{Pause) You know nothing of it, do you? {Seri- 
ously.) 

Martha {Astonished) Me, sir! {Steps l.) 

Ridgewell. Of course, I don’t for one moment 
suspect you, Martha, but the whole thing seems so 
incredible. There were only Mrs. Ridgewell, my- 
self and you in the house, and the electrician whom 
they arrested. {Rises) Did you know anything 
about that man, Martha? 

Martha. I have only seen him here on one or 
two occasions, sir. 

Ridgewell. Have you ever had any conversa- 
tion together? {Crosses r. of table). 

Martha. I don’t understand you, sir. 

Ridgewell. {Apologetically) The police had a 
sort of idea that if the electrician had stolen the 

4 


jewel, it might have been with your aid. 

Martha. Good heavens, sir ! I never even knew 
there was a jewel in the house until the police 
came here this morning. 

Ridgewell. (Sits R. of table) I know, Martha, 
I know! I have no more reason to suspect you 
than I have to suspect Mrs. Ridgewell. And yet 
(rises) this man’s record is so good (crosses R. 
slowly) — the electrical company say that he has 
been in their employ for seven years, and has a 
record of being one of the nicest and most sober 
employees on the staff. 

(Ready, Door-bell) , 

Martha. That may be, sir, but I remember a 
case in Paris where a man worked for nine years 
in one firm to get hold of a certain amount of 
money. It was in the manager’s safe. It took him 
nine years to get the combination, but one day he 
got the combination and the money too. But be- 
cause of his long standing with the firm, every one 
thought him innocent, and his manager refused to 
prosecute him. Some years afterward, he was 
caught red-handed in a big robbery, and while lying 
in prison in Paris, confessed to the former robbery 
and to his having to wait nine years to accomplish 
it. 

Ridgewell. Well, all I hope is if this man has 
it, he gets his just deserts. (Crosses to chair r. of 
table) Martha, bring my cigars. (Martha crosses 
to R. as if going to the smoking room. Door-bell.) 
Never mind the cigars, Martha. See who that is. 

Martha. (Who has gone to the door r., as if to 
leave the room for the cigars, turns to see who the 
visitor is). 

Ridgewell. (Takes out watch) Nine twenty- 
five. (To himself) Surely that can’t be the detec- 
tive. (Crosses up, looks off c. door). 

Martha. Detective Keen wishes to see you, sir ! 
(Showing fright). 


5 


Ridgewell. Detective Keen. Good. . . . Show 
the detective in, Martha. {Crosses down l. of table. 
After Marfha exits). He is early. I thought he 
said ten o’clock. 

Martha. {Returns with detective), 

Ridgewell. Detective Keen ? 

Visitor. {Nods slowly), 

Ridgewell. The gentleman’s hat and coat, 
Martha. 

Martha. {Takes hat and coat from Visitor, who 
looks at her intently. She hangs hat and coat on 
rack), 

Ridgewell. I did not really expect you until 
ten o ’clock. 

Visitor. No? {Gomes down q. Looks at watch) 
An early detective catches the thief ! I trust I have 
not inconvenienced you. 

Martha. {Who has watched the Visitor closely 
from the moment of his entrance, exits l., picking 
up coffee service on the way), 

Ridgewell. Not at all, sir. 

Visitor. {Turns hack on audience, walks up 
stage, looking off at exit, which was used hy 
Martha, casually) How long have you had your 
maid? 

Ridgewell. Six weeks. 

Visitor. Where did you get her? 

Ridgewll. My wife engaged her in Paris, just 
before we left there. 

Visitor. French girl, eh? {Crosses d. c.) 

Ridgewell. No, American. 

Visitor. I see. {Points to Room l., the dining 
room) What room is that? 

Ridgewell. The dining room. Would you care 
to see it? 

Visitor. Not yet, thank you. Windows, of 
course. 

Ridgewell. Yes, two. 

Visitor. Looking where ? 

6 


Ridgewell. Onto the fire escape. 

Visitor. Back or front? 

Ridgewell. The back of the house. 

Visitor. And that room? {Pointing to smoking 
room, x-R. ) 

Ridgewell. That is my smoking room. 

Visitor. Windows? 

Ridgewell. Yes. 

Visitor. Onto the fire escape? 

Ridgewell. No, no fire escape from that room. 

Visitor. Good. Now, Mr. Ridgewell (crosses l.), 
will you tell me, as briefly as possible, the details 
of the robbery? (Sits at table c. on chair) . I have 
an appointment at ten o’clock, so I must positively 
leave this house at five minutes of ten. So be as 
brief as you can. 

Ridgewell. (Sits with Visitor) My business is 
jewels. I am a jewelry expert. I do large valua- 
tions. I also represent the best American firni'^ 
in dealing direct with the mines, or the continental 
houses. Twelve weeks ago I purchased, through an 
agent in Amsterdam, a white ruby from His High- 
ness, the Maharajah of Soltore. I paid $27,000 for 
it, on behalf of a New York millionaire. 

Visitor. And his name? 

Ridgew^ell. I promised not to disclose. 

Visitor. I see (nods). 

RidgeW'ELL. I arrived in New York with the 
jewel six weeks ago. To-day is the 28th. I was to 
have handed the stone personally to my client on 
the first of the month, on his arrival in New York. 

Visitor. I understand you missed the stone to- 
day. 

Ridgewell. Yes, sir, this morning. Last night 
my brother and his wife from Chicago were din- 
ing with us. They were curious to see the stone, 
so, during dinner, I left the table, went to the safe 
in my bedroom, took out the stone, and showed it 
to them, after which I replaced it in the safe and 

7 


locked it. This morning at ten o’clock my brother 
’phoned me to bring the stone personally to him 
at his hotel, as he had got the impression that it 
was worth more than the $27,000 I had paid the 
agent in Amsterdam. I went to the safe to take 
out the jewel and found it was gone. 

Visitor. Who was in the house when you missed 
the stone? 

Ridgewell. My wife, who is ill in bed, our maid, 
and the electrician who came to repair some fix- 
tures. 

Visitor. Had this electrician ever been in your 
house before? (l. u.) 

Ridgewell. Oh, yes, he has done some repairing 
previous to this. 

Visitor. Immediately you missed the jewel, I 
take it, you ’phoned for the police? 

Ridgewell. Yes, immediately, and they searched 
the house thoroughly, hunted for traces of bur- 
glars, but not a sign or clue was discovered. 

Visitor. They searched the maid’s room? 

Ridgewell. Yes, without her knowledge. They 
searched everything in her possession. 

Visitor. The electrician, what of him? 

Ridgewell. The police made an informal arrest, 
and took him to the station to await developments. 

Visitor. Has the maid left the house since? 

Ridgewell. No, the police left strict instruc- 
tions that neither myself, my wife, nor the maid 
were to leave the house until further examination 
had been made, nor after that. 

{Ready. ^ Phone). 

Visitor. Thank you, Mr. Ridgewell. {Rises, 
crosses r.) A very interesting problem. But I don’t 
think it is a case for the police, however. It is 
more a case in my own line. {Crosses l. to d. l. c.) 
I would like to examine the rooms, Mr. Ridgewell. 

Ridgewell. {Rises with Visitor) With pleas- 
ure. This, as I said, is our dining room. 

8 


Visitor. {Crosses l. to door) Ah, place where you 
eat. So that is where the three of you dined last 
night? {Mr, Ridgewell crosses R., hack of table. 
Visitor folloivs R., in fronts till * phone halts him). 

Ridgewell. Yes, and this is the smoking room. 
{Telephone rings. Ridgewell goes up to it r. and 
picks up the receiver) Hello! Hello! Yes, yes! 
No, I am Mr. Ridgewell. Who are you? Who? 
{Places hand over mouthpiece — suddenly surprised, 
turns to Visitor) . Detective Keen ! 

{Ridgewell rises and stands r. of chair, relin- 
quishing the ^ phone to Visitor). 

Visitor. {In a flash, goes to 'phone, listens to 
voice. Crosses c. Hands receiver hack to Ridge- 
IV ell) . 

Ridgewell. {To ^ phone) Ah! very good. Come 
right up. {Astonished, crosses to Visitor) What 
does it mean? 

Visitor. {Clear, distinct and strong) Mr. Ridge- 
well, one of the cleverest criminal plots ever at- 
tempted is about to be exposed. . . . You will an- 
swer any question this man may put to you. That 
is understood. There will be no danger. Leave 
everything to me. Pray, be seated. {Ridgewell 
sits L. of table) Try to look as unconcerned as 
possible. {The hell rings at the main door. 'Enter 
Martha, crosses) The fly comes to the spider. 

Martha. {Enters, goes to the door and returns) 
Somebody to see you, sir. 

Ridgewell. What name ? 

Martha. He did not give his name. 

Ridgewell. Ask him in. {Rises). 

Visitor. Remember all that I told you. 

Martha. {Goes to door, returns with Crook. She 
closes door behind him and walks to kitchen, watch- 
ing the newcomer suspiciously over her shoulder, 
and slowly exits to the kitchen). 

Crook. (A.s Martha exits, he watches her 
dramatically , follows her slowly to kitchen, looks 

9 


off into room, and returns to c. He adopts a non- 
chalant, gruff manner, not even removing his hat, 
hut throwing it on the hack of his head) I didn’t 
give my name, sir. I knew yon were expecting me. 
I am Detective Keen. (Crosses to Visitor), 

Kidgewell. (Crosses to r. of table) As I 
thought. I am Mr. Kidgewell. 

Crook. How do yon do? Glad to meet yon. 
(Crosses l. to Ridgeivell. Shakes hands) And this? 
(Nods toivard Visitor). 

Kidgewell. Oh, that is a friend of mine. 
(Crosses to l. of table). 

Crook. (Goes over to Visitor, takes his hand) 
Glad to meet yon. (As the Visitor's hand is in his, 
he looks at the ring the Visitor is wearing and 
smiles slightly) Are yon, like Mr. Kidgewell, a 
jeweler, too? 

Visitor. No, no, but I handle quite a lot of 
jewelry. 

Crook. Expensive habit. 

Visitor. Yes, for those who do not understand 
it. (An inconvenient pause between the men). 

Crook. Ah, quite so. (After a sarcastic smile, 
turns to Ridgewell) . Yon ’phoned to our detective 
agency to-day. 

Kidgewell. (l. of table) Yes. 

(During dialogue between Crook and Ridge- 
well, Visitor crosses up and stands above the 
table and watches everything the Crook does). 

Crook. And laid some information before the 
chief about a robbery that was committed here this 
morning. 

Kidgewell. Yes. 

Crook. A valuable stone was taken from this 
house. What was its value? 

Kidgewell. I paid $27,000 for it, but person- 
ally I put the value at about $30,000. 

Crook. Just give me a brief outline of the rob- 

10 


bery, please. {In a rather amateurish way, starts 
to make notes as Ridgewell continues his narra- 
tion). 

Eidgewell. I had the stone in a drawer of my 
safe. The safe is in my bedroom. 

Crook. Bedroom ? The place where you sleep ! 
( With point. Writing also) . 

Eidgewell. Last night my brother and his wife 
came in to see the jewel. 

Crook. What business is your brother in, Mr. 
Eidgewell ? 

Eidgewell. He is a jeweler in Chicago. 

Crook. Chicago? Um, a dangerous place for a 
jeweler. {Writes) Is he in the city now? 

Eidgewell. Oh, yes. I showed the stone to my 
brother last night at dinner, after which I locked 
it in the safe and took the key with me. 

Crook. How did you come to find out that the 
stone was gone? 

Eidgewell. Well, about ten o’clock this morn- 
ing, when I was departing for my office, my brother 
caught me on the ’phone and asked me if I would 
mind taking the stone down to his hotel, as he 
would like to make a personal valuation of it. He 
thought it was worth more than I had paid for it. 
I said I would do so, and rang off. I went to my 
bedroom, unlocked the safe, and was positively 
dumbfounded to find the stone — was gone. 

Crook. {Correcting him) Taken! 

Eidgewell. {Smiling slightly) Taken! {Say- 
ing after him). 

Crook. {Turns r.) Taken. Are you sure the 
stone was not misplaced in the safe ? 

Eidgewell. {Steps r.) I am positively certain. 
The police searched the safe and its contents from 
top to bottom. 

Crook. Did you send for the police immedi- 
ately ? 

Eidgewell. Naturally. 

11 


Crook. Did anybody enter the house between 
last night ^s dinner and the time you missed the 
jewel? 

Ridgewell. One man, an electrician. 

Crook. An electrician? (Writes, Takes step 

R.) 

Ridgewell. Who came to repair some fixtures. 
(Takes step r.) 

Crook. Repair some fixtures. (Makes note) 
Are you a married man, Mr. Ridgewell? 

Ridgewell. Yes, my wife is ill in bed and knew 
nothing of the robbery whatever. I am afraid to 
break the news to her in her weak condition. 

Crook. This electrician you mentioned — what 
has become of him? 

Ridgewell. The police arrested him on suspi- 
cion and he will be kept under close observation 
until further developments. (Starts to turn away). 

Crook. Who else was in the house at the time 
of the robbery? 

Ridgewell. (Turns hack r.) As I said, my 
wife, myself and the maid. 

Crook. Take the maid first. How long has she 
been in your employ? 

Ridgewell. We brought, her from Paris with us 
six weeks ago. 

Crook. French ? 

RiDGEWELii. On the contrary, she is an Ameri- 
can. 

Crook. (Whistles. Ridgewell crosses l. of table) 
Is that so? (Going up stage, looks off l. u. e., then 
returns) You will pardon my saying so, but your 
maid’s face is familiar to me. I only got a glimpse 
of her. I should like to question her. Would you 
be kind enough to ask her in here? 

Ridgewell. Certainly. (Rings hell) I am 
afraid she knows very little of the case. (Sits), 

Crook. We shall see. (As he says this, he passes 
Visitor and. sarcastically smiles at him. Goes up 

12 


stage into little hallway, slyly hiding behind cur- 
tains) . 

Martha. {Slight pause. Enters c.) Yes, sir*? 

Eidgewell. Martha, the detective here wishes 
to ask you one or two questions. 

Martha. {Looks scared) Me, sir ! (As she ex- 
claims, the Crook quietly walks down behind her, 
unobserved, so that he is practically speaking over 
her right shoulder). 

Crook. Yes, you are not afraid of detectives, 
are you? 

Martha. {Jumps as she hears his voice so near 
her) No, sir. {Endeavoring to smile). 

Crook. I thought not. Let me see, how long 
were you in Paris before Mr. and Mrs. Eidgewell 
engaged you? 

Martha. A few months. 

Crook. What was your occupation? 

Martha. Companion. 

Crook. Who to? 

Martha. A French lady. 

Crook. Her name ? 

Martha. The Countess Larney. 

Crook. There is no such countess. 

Martha. There is. , 

Crook. It’s a lie. {Pause) The Countess 
Larney is an assumed name. Do you know her 
real name ? 

Martha. {Obstinately) No! 

Crook. Is that so? Do you mean to tell me 
you have never heard of Madame Galmont? 

Martha. What ! 

Crook. The lady of the heel. {Eidgewell looks 
at Martha), 

Martha. Why! I — I don’t know what you 
mean. 

Crook. We shall see. The shoes you are wear- 
ing — were they made in Paris? 

Martha. Why ? 


13 


Crook. I repeat — were they made in Paris? 

Martha. No, New York. 

Crook. Would you mind my seeing one? 

Martha. Why should you? 

Crook. Because I think they were made in Paris. 

Martha. What if they were ? 

Ridgewell. {Appealingly) Martha, let the de- 
tective see the shoe. 

Martha. {Appealingly) But he has no right 
to, sir. 

Crook. The shoes, please. 

Martha. {Takes off her left shoe and hands it 
to Crook), 

Ridgewell. {Turns slightly away, puzzled). 

Crook. {Examines shoe). As I thought, Pari- 
sian. 

Ridgewell. {Looks hack again), 

Martha. {While the Crook is examining the 
shoe, she changes the right shoe to the left foot). 

Crook. {Examines the heel, then returns the 
left shoe to her) Now the other one. {He turns 
away and makes a comment to Visitor). 

Martha. {Gives him hack the left shoe). 

Crook. {Takes shoe, examines it, smiles) Two 
lefts. Let me have the other shoe, the right shoe, 
the one that^s left. 

Martha. {Gasps quickly. She then relinquishes 
the right shoe to him). 

Crook. ( Takes the shoe and gradually unloosens 
the heel with his fingers. Ridgewell turns and faces 
Crook) Now, Mr. Ridgewell, would it surprise you 
very much if I should hold in my hand the lost 
jewel? {Holds up shoe in left hand). 

Ridgewell. The jewel! 

Visitor. {Slowly walks down to Crook and 
watches him). 

Crook. Yes, watch! One little turn of the heel 

{He slowly unscrews heel and shakes out 

stone in his hand) I knew it! {Holds up stone) 

14 


This, I believe, is the white ruby. 

« 

PICTURE 

Ridgewell. Great heavens ! 

Visitor. {Sarcastically) Marvelous!! {Crosses 
up stage to door), 

Ridgewell. {Shows expression of delight), 

Martha. {Starts to move slowly up toward door 
to Visitor), 

Crook. {To Martha, Puts stone in his pocket) 
One moment, my girl, well put these on. {Hand- 
cuffs Martha) Now, Mr. Ridgewell, what time is 
it? 

Ridgewell. {Looking at watch) Seven minutes 
to ten. 

Crook. At fifteen minutes after ten I want you 
to be at the 54th Street Station to identify the 
jewel. I will be there to receive you. 

Ridgewkll. {Starts to protest — l. of table) But 
the jewel, I 

Crook. It will be safe with me. I must keep it 
until the official claiming. In the meantime, I will 
take my prisoner to headquarters. Come along, my 
girl. {He takes Martha by wrist and is about to 
exit with her through main door, when the Visitor 
stands in doorway, with his gun in his right hand, 
resting over his left, carelessly holding b'dth up). 

Visitor. Why the hurry? 

Crook. Who are you? 

Visitor. I repeat, why the hurry? 

Crook. And I repeat, who are you? 

Visitor. Since you are so persistent, I must tell 
you. My name is Keen — Detective Keen. 

Crook. Trapped ! 

{Ridgewell reaches r., crosses from d. l. to c. 
between Visitor and Crook, Martha and Crook 
go d. s., left, in a state of absolute terror). 

Visitor. {Commands situation) Mr. Ridgewell, 

15 


this gentleman has a weakness for jewelry. Be 
good enough to present him with these bracelets. 
{Takes handcuffs out of pocket, presents them to 
Ridgewell, who puts them on Crook’s wrists. 
Ridgewell, in doing so, is a little scared). 

Visitor. They have a very embracing clasp. 
Put them on with great care. {Ridgewell looks at 
Visitor, frightened) He is perfectly safe. {Covers 
all with his revolver) Now then, the ruby. Take 
it from his inside pocket. {Ridgewell takes ruhy 
from Crook’s inside pocket. Business). 

Visitor. That’s right. {Ridgewell gives sign of 
delight at holding jewel in his hand again. Goes 
D. R.) {To Martha and Crook) My friends, I may 
be going over to Paris in a few days. I wish to 
have the address of Madame Galmont. 

Martha. {Makes motion as if to speak. Crook 
stops her with a gesture). 

Visitor. I repeat, I may call on Madame Gal- 
mont. Will you be so kind as to give me her ad- 
dress in Paris? 

{Martha makes another movement in front of 

Crook, as if to tell Visitor). 

Crook. {Nudges her again) . Quiet ! 

{They hold Picture). 

{Ready. ’Phone). 

Visitor. Oh, very well, the police have a way of 
compelling people to answer questions. They will 
attend to you later. Mr. Ridgewell, I shall take 
these folks down to headquarters. I shall not re- 
linquish this case until I have arrested the entire 
gang. In the meantime, Mr. Ridgewell, it is im- 
portant that we keep watch on your office premises. 
I understand there is a very valuable collection in 
your office. Your place of business is on Broad- 
way, is it not? 

Ridgewell. Yes, 171 Broadway. 

Visitor. The first floor, I believe. 

Ridgewell. Yes. 


I , 


16 


*. A 


Visitor. The janitor name is? . . . 

Eidgewell. Clark. 

Visitor. Oh, Clark, of course. I think I know 
him. I shall make it my particular business to 
visit your office. 

Eidgewell. Thank you. Detective Keen. 

{Telephone rings. Eidgewell starts to answer 
^ phone). 

Visitor. No ! No ! No ! Be careful ! Leave it 
to me. {Goes quickly to telephone — sits) Hello! 
Yes! Yes, this is Mr. Eidgewell. . . . {Eidgewell 
starts to take ^phone from Visitor, who stops him 
with a stare) I am Mr. Eidgewell. Yes, who are 
you? Who? Detective Keen! {Hastily putting 
his hand over mouthpiece, smiles). 

Eidgewell. Detective Keen ! 

{The following played rapidly). 

Crook. We are done for. 

Martha. The three of us. 

Eidgewell. What does it mean? 

Visitor. Silence ! ! {Pause. He then talks in 
customary manner over telephone) Hello ! Is that 
you? Yes, somebody cut us off. Why, certainly, 
come right up, second floor. Detective Keen. 
{Hangs up receiver, crosses d. r.) 

Eidgewell. Who was it? {Crosses toward table 

D. c.) 

Visitor. Another of the gang. 

Eidgewell. {Crosses d. l.) What! 

Visitor. {Laughs) My luck’s in to-day. 

Eidgewell. What are you going to do? {Below 
table, D. L.) 

Visitor. {Puts hand over eyes, goes up stage) 
Let me see ! Let me see ! ( Goes suddenly over to 

Crook and says fiercely) Listen to me. Get into 
that room there. {Points l.) You can’t get away. 
I have got my men on watch. Stay in that room. 
Don’t move, but stay until I am ready for you. 

17 


{Crook laughs.) {Ready. Doorbell). 

There is nothing to laugh at. When I laugh, that’ll 
be time for you to begin something. {Martha and 
Crook start to exit to kitchen. To Martha) Come 
here — you! {Quickly tears off her handcuffs. 

Crook exits). 

Visitor. When the doorbell rings, you will open 
the door to your new confederate. Don’t give him 
a sign. Eemember, your signs are my signs. When 
he has entered, you go into that room and keep 
silent. Mr. Ridgewell, you and I must change 
places. When this man enters, show no fear. Treat 
me as the master of the house. I shall be Mr. 
Ridgewell. You will be my lawyer. {The hell 
rings). {To Martha) See who it is. I’ve got the 
gang at last. {Crosses d. r.) 

Maid. {Goes to door, brings card on salver). 

Visitor. {Intercepts her, reads card). Ah, yes, 
ask him in. {To Ridgewell, l. Goes on talking to 
Ridgewell) . 

Maid. {Ushers real Detective Keen in). 

Visitor. {Goes over to Detective Keen and 
shakes hand, d. c.) Dow do you do? 

Keen. Mr. Ridgewell ? 

Visitor. Yes. 

Keen. I am Detective Keen. 

Visitor. Oh, Detective Keen! I am glad you 
have come. I suppose you have got some details 
of the robbery from your agency. 

Keen. Yes, a few. I would prefer to learn your 
version. Kindly give me full particulars, Mr. 
Ridgewell. 

Visitor. Certainly. . . . Mr. Radner, this is 
Detective Keen. . . . Mr. Radner is my lawyer. 
We have had some business to discuss and are 
nearly through. We won’t take long. Would you 
care to wait in the smoking room? {Casually takes 
Keen’s arm and walks him to door) This way. 
Help yourself to cigars or cigarettes. There is a 

18 


highball in there, too. . . . Make yourself at home. 

Keen. Thank you, Mr. Ridgewell. {Exits d. r.) 

{Ridgewell sits l. of table). 

Visitor. {Txirns to Ridgewell) . Oh, Mr. Rad- 
nor, about this Michigan property. ( Quickly takes 
out a vial of chloroform and handkerchief and 
works it all through this) Wouldn’t it be advis- 
able to write to Chicago and tell the agents that 
they can close the matter? I consider their offer 
satisfactory and I am thoroughly convinced of the 
advisability of selling out. . . . You think so? 

Ridgewell. Oh, yes. 

Visitor. Good. You can do that to-morrow. 
{Puts vial away) Excuse me. {Calling) Oh, De- 
tective Keen! . . . We’ll chat in here. {Going to- 
ward door) I’ll tell you all I can of the robbery. 
{Going in) Take that high arm chair there. . . . 
That’s right. {Spoken off stage. He gags Keen 
with chloroformed handkerchief . Pause. Scream. 
Silence. He rushes out, slams door. Puts his back 
to door, laughs aloud). Ha! ha! Got him! Got 
’em all ! It’s the best thing I ever pulled off. {Puts 
hand on gun in hip pocket) Little did 1 think, 
wlien I came here to-night, that I’d hand you the 
white ruby. {Goes over to Ridgewell, smiling) 
Little did you think that to-night you’d stand face 
to face with three of the greatest crook s in Europe. 
{Crook and Martha enter. Puts gwf^^RidgewelVs 
head. Standing back of Ridgewell, Crook on left, 
Martha right) . Speak, and it’s your finish ! {Crook 
holds him up on the other side). 

Ridgewell. My, God! 

Crook. Cut the wire. 

{Martha cuts ^ phone wire). 

Visitor. The ruby — where is it? 

Crook. {Takes jewel from pocket). 

Ridgewell. Who are you? 

Visitor. You want to know who I am? I’ll 
show you who I am. {To Martha) Open that door. 

19 


LIBRAR\ 

r 0 

CONGRESS 


II 

II 

III 

I 

III 

II 

III 


II 

II 

II 


0 015 992 206 6 • 


{Pointing r, Martha opens door. Detective Keen 
falls out and sinks on floor, c.) If yon want to 
know who I am, ask your dopey friend there ! 

Eidgewell. (l., below table) What does it all 
mean ? 

{Martha and Crook move up to center door). 

Visitor. Ask him, Detective Keen. 

Eidgewell. {Crosses r. of table) Then who, in 
Heaven’s name, are you? 

Visitor. {Business of taking fob and pin) 
That’s his business to find out. Good-night, Mr. 
Eidgewell. {Laughs) I may call on your busi- 
ness house one day. I ’ll drop you a line to say I ’m 
coming. I shan^t leave a stone unturned. Good- 
night I {Laughs ) Good-night ! 

CUETAIN. 


20 


OAM 1 5 1919 


